Can handling fork



March 9 -H. A. STALKFLEET 2,151,231

CAN HANDLING FORK Filed Feb. 5, 1938 l amen 1M 17011 04. flaw/eel MXG WH an v of different sizes.

Patented Mar. 21, 1 939 CAN HANDLING FORK Harry A. Stalkfleet, Lawrence, Kans., assignor of one-half to Lee Stalkfleet, Muscatine, Iowa, and

one-fourth to Delbert Kans.

F. Reed, Lawrence,

Application February 5, 1938, Serial No. 189,011

11 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in can handling forks.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a can handling fork of a design which may be readily adjusted or modified. to handle cans In canneries and in can manufacturing plants, it is the present practice for workmen to transfer empty cans from piles to conveyors associated with can filling mechanisms and to transfer cans from the conveyor of one can making machine to the conveyor of a ma.- chine which is intended to perform a different manufacturing operation by means of forks or tools which are provided with a plurality of pegs on which the cans are positioned to effect the desired transfer. The can handling forks now in common use are provided with a suitable number of pegs which are fixedly fastened to :a head of predetermined length. To handle cans of different sizes, different forks must be provided. These different forks have pegs of different lengths and the pegs are spaced different distances along the heads of the tools to accommodate the different sized cans.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a can handling tool or fork which has a peg carrying head that may be adjusted as to length and which is intended to removably and adjustably receive a suitable number of pegs. The adjustability of the head and the adjustability of the pegs relative to the head enables a single fork to be employed for handling cans of different diameters.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- 8 vide a can handling tool having readily replaceable pegs to permit pegs of different lengths to be employed. The ability to associate pegs of different lengths with the tool enables a single too-1 to be employed for handling cans of different heights.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can handling tool or fork which has a head that is adjustable as to length and to maintain the various adjustable sections of the head in. their desired relative positions by means of can engaging pegs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the can handling fork or tool embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a detail plan View illustrating the manner of associating the can handling pegs with the head of the fork and the manner of retaining the relatively adjustable head sections properly interconnected,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Figure 4 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the tool head with a peg associated therewith.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of this invention, the reference character 5 designates the handle portion of the can handling tool or fork embodying this invention. A channel shaped main head section 6 is attached to one end of the handle 5 by means of the forked bracket 1. To brace this bracket connection between the handle and the head section, additional brace members 8 are provided.

By inspecting Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that the main head section 6 of the fork is provided with a back wall 9 and two right angularly arranged side walls H3. The outer longitudinal edges of the side walls are formed integrally with laterally, inwardly bent front wall sections l l. The adjacent edges of these front wall sections are spaced relative to each other to form a slot l2 therebetween. These free edges of the front wall sections H are provided with inwardly directed flanges [3 which are notched at 4. Any suitable number of notches l4 may be provided in the flanges E3. The closeness of these notches determines the number of different positions in whi h pegs can be adjusted, as will be explained at a later point.

To complete the head of the tool, channel shaped end sections 6 are provided. These end head sections are of the same design as the main or central head section 6, but have their various walls 9', l0 and H of proper dimensions to fit within the bore of the main head section 6. In other words, the end sections 6 are telescopically received within the opposite ends of the central head section 8. The spaced free edges of the front wall sections I l are provided with inwardly directed flanges H which are notched in the same manner as the middle section 6, see Fig. 4. It is to be understood that the notches for the opposite flanges l3 are arranged in transverse alignment with respect to each other. The notches for the flanges I3 also are arranged in transverse alignment with each other and are spaced the same distance as the notches I4 for the main head section 6. This arrangement makes the notches for all of the flanges l3 and I3 register with each other.

Figs. 1 and 2 disclose a plurality of pegs l5 associated with the head section. The detail features of construction of each one of these pegs I 5 can be best seen by inspecting Fig. 3.

Each peg member is provided with a rigid, transversely extending pin It spaced properly from its inner end. The pins of the various pegs are intended to be received in the notches id of the flanges l3 and I3. To compel these pins It to remain in the notches, the inner end of each peg i5 is telescopically received within a sleeve or socket ll mounted on a disc-like base IS. A spring 59 is positioned within the sleeve or soC-ket ii and bears against the inner end of the peg and the inner end of the base I8. These springs I!) force the pins it outwardly into seating engagement with the proper notches M. The pressure exerted by the springs l9 also maintains the base members l8 seated against the inner face of the back wall 9 or 9' of the head sections.

As the pins 56 and the base disc it are not fixed relative to the head sections, the pegs l5 may be adjusted longitudinally of the head sections by merely unseating their pins it from certain notches and moving the peg units longitudinally of the head sections into the desired new position. By again seating the pins it into proper notches, the pegs will be maintained in the new position.

Due to the fact that the pins iii will be seated in registering notches M formed in the flanges I3 and iii of the head sections 6 and 6' where these head sections overlap, as shown in Fig. 2, the spring pressed pins it will retain the head sections 6 and t in their relative adjusted positions. The pegs it may be entirely removed from the head sections by pressing inwardly on the same to unseat the pins it from the notches l4 and then angularly move the pinsso that they will extend lengthwise of the slots l2 formed in the head sections. The pins it then will pass outwardly through the slots of the head section for removal of the pegs. Pegs of different lengths then may be substituted by reversing the manipulation of the pegs and their pins.

It will be seen that the can handling fork embodying this invention may be adjusted as to length by varying the positions of the end head sections 5 relative to the central head section 6. The various pegs it may be adjusted lengthwise of the head sections to accommodate cans of different diameters. By removing one set of pegs and substituting a different set of difierent length pegs, the fork or tool may be adapted for handling cans of difierent heights.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A can handling fork comprising a hollow, elongated head having a longitudinally extending slot formed in a wall thereof, a multiplicity of notches formed in the. edges of said slot, a plurality of pegs extending through said slot, a transverse pin carried by each peg, and a spring associated with the inner end of each peg for seating its pin in aligned notches of said head.

, 2. A can handling fork comprising a head formed of a plurality of telescopically associated sections, a plurality of can engaging pegs carried by the sections of the head, a manipulating handle attached to one section of said head, and means associated with the pegs and the head sections so constructed and arranged as to retain the head sections in relative adjusted position and to permit independent removal and longitudinal adjustment of all of the pegs relative to the sections of the head with which they are associated.

3. A can handling fork comprising a head formed of a plurality of telescopically associated sections, means for retaining the head sections in different positions of adjustment to vary the length of the head, a plurality of can engaging pegs carried by the head sections, and means associated with the pegs and the head sections for permitting relative independent longitudinal adjustment and removal of the pegs relative to their particular head sections.

4. A can handling fork comprising a hollow head formed of a plurality of telescopically associated sections, all of said sections being formed to provide a continuous longitudinally extending slot in a wall of the head, means for retaining the head sections in different positions of adjustment to vary the length of the head, a plurality of spaced pegs extending through and associated with the entire length of said slot, and means positioned within the head sections and associated with the head sections and pegs for permitting independent removal and longitudinal adjustment of all of the pegs relative tothe sections of the head with which they are associated.

5. A can handling fork comprising a hollow head formed of a plurality of telescopically associated sections, and with a slot extending longitudinally through one wall of the head, a multiplicity of notches formed in the edges of said slot, the notches of the various head sections registering transversely of the head when the sections are properly adjusted relative to each other, a plurality of pegs extending through said slot, a transverse pin carried by each peg and spring means for seating the pins of said pegs in the notches of the head sections, the seating of the pins of certain pegs in the registering notches of the head sections resulting in maintaining the said sections in desired adjusted position.

6. A can handling fork comprising a hollow, elongated head having a longitudinally extending slot formed in a Wall thereof, a multiplicity of notches formed in the edges of said slot with the notches in the respective edges registering transversely, a plurality of pegs extending through said slots, a transverse pin carried by each peg, a socket for each peg and in which the inner end of the peg is seated, and spring means in each peg socket for seating its transverse pin in aligned notches of said head.

7. A can handling fork comprising a hollow, elongated head having a longitudinally extending slot formed in a Wall thereof, a plurality of pegs extending through said slot, cooperating means carried by each peg and the interior of the head throughout its length for holding the pegs against unintentional removal from the head and for locating the pegs in desired positions of adjustment relative to each other.

8. A can handling fork comprising a hollow, elongated head having a longitudinally extending slot formed in a wall thereof, a multiplicity of notches formed in the edges of said slot, a plurality of pegs extending through said slot, a transverse pin carried by each peg, and means associated with the pegs and the head for maintaining the transverse pins seated in aligned notches of said head.

9. A can handling fork comprising a hollow, elongated head having a longitudinally extending slot formed in a wall thereof, a plurality of pegs extending through said slot, peg holding means associated with the edges of said slot, means carried by each peg for cooperating with said peg holding means, and means associated with the pegs and the head for maintaining the peg holding means and the peg carried means in proper cooperating relation.

10. A can handling fork comprising a hollow head formed of a plurality of telescopically associated sections with a slot extending longitudinally through one wall of the head, a multiplicity of notches formed in the edges of said slot, the notches of the various head sections registering "transversely of the head when the sections are properly adjusted relative to each other, a plurality of pegs extending through said slot, a transverse pin carried by each peg, and means associated with the pegs and the head for maintaining the transverse pins seated in aligned notches of said head sections, the seating of the pins of the pegs in the registering notches of the head sections resulting in maintaining said sections in desired adjusted position.

11. A can handling fork comprising a hollow head formed of a plurality of telescopically associated sections with a slot extending longitudinally to one wall of the head, a plurality of independent pegs adapted to be arranged in the slot in desired spaced relation, peg engaging means associated with the edges of the slot formed in all of the head sections, means carried by each peg for cooperating with said peg engaging means, and means associated with the pegs and the head for maintaining the peg engaging means and the peg carried means in proper cooperating relation thereby holding the pegs in desired spaced relation and the head sections in desired adjusted relation.

HARRY A. STALKFLEET. 

